Exercise for me is usually a feel-good activity. Even if I arrive at the gym feeling a bit low or under-whelmed, once I get finished I’m always feeling refreshed and alive again. As I’ve come to workout more and more, there are some exercises I really get excited about (and some I really don’t look forward to!). The ones that are my favourites usually earn that distinction because I find them to be very result-friendly, or they just make me feel really good!
A few of us bloggers have decided to list our Top Five Exercises we Love to Hate for our readers to compare. I think we’ll all learn a lot!
Because I’m a mom and can’t always get to the gym for my workouts, I am going to define my list by my favourite exercises that can be performed at home.
My Top 5 Love to Hate At-Home Exercises:
1. Jump Squats – I do these with my 14lb medicine ball in hand. I love these because they work the glutes and the quads, plus they add cardio work at the same time – a very effective workout! But I hate them because they work those muscles into jelly very quickly – this is the love/hate part. It’s hardwork that gets results. I often do these as part of a circuit routine.
2. Scissor Kicks – These target the abs/core, and at first glance seem easy. But the key is holding your legs in position after each “kick” – this starts to burn! Love them ’cause they hurt so bad! But who doesn’t need some good core work? I do!
3. Shoulder Press – This very basic exercise has always been one I look forward to, however I hate it because I fatigue way faster than I would like. But I love the challenge this presents. When I first began doing this exercise way back when, I was shocked at how difficult it was for me to repeatedly lift that weight above my head. So ever since then, I have constantly challenged myself to keep lifting heavier and to increase reps. I dread knowing I’m going to have to push thru it, but I can see the results of my hard work now. I can proudly say my shoulders are one of my ”most improved” areas over the years.
4. Sprints – if you’re a mom like me and stuck at home with no cardio machines, then sprints are the answer. The kids can sit inside while mom runs sprints up and down the street! I’m a runner so I love to run anyway, but I love that sprints provide a muscle-building, fat-burning form of cardio – no equipment needed! But after a few intervals, it gets pretty exhausting so its often a mind-game to keep pushing thru – not like a treadmill that keeps the pace for you!
5. Chin-ups – at the playground! This is what I do when my kids are at the playground. There’s always some sort of bar to use there! I love the concept of chin-ups…having to lift your own body weight. And I love that it works my arms, back, and core. But, gosh darn it – are they difficult! I want to keep trying to perfect this one, so even though I hate that they’re so hard, I know that little by little I’ll increase my strength and build those muscles! Even while the kids are playing!
So there you have it — nothing crazy, but fitness is not necessarily all about fancy machines or complicated routines. It’s about challenging yourself and finding creative ways to make exercise a part of your daily life!
Make sure you check out what these other fit girls have to say! I think it will be very inspiring to see what keeps everyone on their toes!
Donloree – http://www.bikiniorbust.com/
Kari – http://www.figuregirlworld.com/
Dawn — http://www.bareitallfitness.com/
Jen — http://jenklimek.wordpress.com/
Colleen — http://www.thefitbee.com/
Liz — http://4amaven.wordpress.com/
Tiffany — http://passlakeprincess.wordpress.com/
Colleen
/ April 8, 2011I HATE jump squats lol I do them with a kettle bell and despise them every time!
Dawn
/ April 9, 2011I have a love for (most) shoulder exercises but the weights are kept low because they do burn and fatigue pretty fast. Love the list you made and like how you made a list that does not need gym equipment! No excuses!
Darvis Simms
/ April 19, 2011These are some of my favorites also. Chin-ups is one of my staple exercises.